Macromedia updates Flash tools

Macromedia on Tuesday released a major update for Flash MX 2004, the company's main collection of design and development tools for Web content based on the Flash format. Previously code-named Ellipsis, the prime benefits of the update are performance enhancements that allow the application to load and compile code faster and upgraded documentation, including more than 400 new code examples.

"The Flash community has been very engaged in helping us deliver this update," Mike Chambers, Macromedia product manager for developer relations, said in a statement. "The result is a significant collection of changes that substantially improve the designer and developer experience." The update is available now for free download by Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004 customers.